Well shit, I’m bored.
In case you haven’t noticed, late June puts us deep in the golf equipment industry’s version of the summer doldrums. There ain’t much of anything new to talk about. Sure, TaylorMade’s SLDR Irons, and SLDR S metalwoods are only just finding there way to the store shelves, but even the industry’s most prolific releaser of new warez has more or less taken its turn at the podium.
Somebody get these guys a chip.
For equipment junkies like us it’s downtime. Take a vacation, or at least a nap. You’ve got some time. If you crave something new for no other reason than you want something new, it’s going to be a few more weeks.
Of course, the lack of latest and greatest presents its own opportunities for discussion or at least speculation. As chaotic as the industry often is, it’s never totally unpredictable.
Something is Coming
Maybe the patent and trademarks we showed you earlier this week are for the Titleist 915. Maybe they’re not, but it’s all but an absolute certainty that there will be a 915.
When was the last time Mizuno didn’t release 2 or 3 sets of irons in the fall? The MP Craft driver just cleared the USGA, and there’s the small matter of that JPX 850 Prototype that Luke Donald was testing at The Players. Something is coming.
What about Bridgestone? It’s been 3 years since the J40 series launched, and not for anything, rumors are swirling that they’ve got MONSTER (like really big Godzilla-sized MONSTER) plans for 2015.
You think Callaway is ready to call it a year? I don’t.
And what about TaylorMade? New putters (whoopee) are all but a given, but will be there more? I hope so.
It’s been a down year thus far, and it stands to reason that everyone who has got the product to do so is going to take their best shot at fixing the numbers.
What You Want vs. What You Need
Philosophically it’s pretty simple. Some companies design for what you want. Others design for what you need. For some of you (not me) they’re the same, for others…polar opposites, but it’s all good. For now I’m not really interested in what you need, but I definitely want to know what you want.
The fall release season will be here before you know it, so you tell us…what do you want, and who do you want it from?
I’ll give you a few to get us started.
:: I want to see a company come out with the next titanium material for a driver
:: I want a shaft on my driver I can adjust the length and the flex, damn that would be nice
::I want Mizuno to release a true follow up to the MP-59 iron
:: I want IGotcha to create a 36′ version of their ball retriever (kidding…I think)
:: I want to see a company come out with one app or device that combines ALL the cool technologies currently on the market
:: I want TaylorMade to release a titanium-faced version of the Mini Driver
:: I want Bettinardi to release an affordable Fit-Face JAM putter with a sick finish
:: I want SuperStroke to knock about 30% off the cost of a grip. While we’re at it, Trackman could do the same
What Do You Want?
State your demands below.
Alex Kalionzes
10 years ago
I would like to see more companies make BLADES like Mizuno does, but maybe 1-2 degrees stronger. I would like to see PROS play blades again… they hit the ball far enough and it’s time to see who really has great talent and who is carried by great technology. I would LOVE to see the end of “proprietary” shafts as stock on irons (looking at you Ping) then charging an “upcharge” to put a stock shaft like a Dynamic Gold S300 or other “generic” on them. The shaft costs you the same and you claim to custom build them, so why pull that “upcharge” crap? Finally, I would like to see a 3-PW stay as the standard set for players irons and the 4-gap/approach/whatever be an option without upcharge. If I wanted another wedge and to build a bigger gap between my last iron and my driving iron/hybrid/fairway wood, I would choose it myself as an option.